This data set provides a list of species of the genus Padina that were sampled at the coasts of Saudi-Arabia, Oman, Socotra, Kenya, Zanzibar (Tanzania), Seychelles, Mauritius, La Réunion and South Africa between 1985 and 1999. In total, eleven species were identified. The list also contains the herbarium codes of the species. Sampling was done by snorkeling, walking or SCUBA diving. The algae were removed from the substrate using a knife and put in plastic bags or lobster bags. The data were digitized by VLIZ from the original report: Muylle, J. (2000). Taxonomische en biogeografische studie van het genus Padina (Dictyotales, Phaeophyta) in de westelijke Indische Oceaan. Taxonomic and biogeographical study of the genus Padina (Dictyotales, Phaeophyta) in the west Indian Ocean.. MSc Thesis. Rijksuniversiteit Gent. Faculteit Wetenschappen: Gent. 222 pp.